Exercise During Pregnancy

It can be difficult to know what kinds of activities are beneficial and safe during pregnancy.  Obviously, the best thing to do is to talk with your health care provider and work out a plan together that takes into account your level of fitness prior to becoming pregnant and your unique health considerations.  Marie Mongan [...]

Prenatal Stress and Allergies/Asthma

From the Science Daily website:
“Women who are stressed during pregnancy may pass some of that frazzlement to their fetuses in the form of increased sensitivity to allergen exposure and possibly future asthma risk, according to researchers from Harvard Medical School who presented their findings at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008 International Conference in Toronto on [...]

Perineal Massage

I know perineal massage isn’t at the top of anyone’s list of things to do.  And I wish I could say that it’s a pleasurable, foreplayish thing to do, but truly it’s not.  If you’re doing it right, you should be putting pressure on the perineal area that is significant enough to stretch this area [...]

Glove Anesthesia – I Lose the Numbness in My Hand When I Move It

We hear a lot from moms first getting used to glove anesthesia that they lose, or lessen, the numbness in their hand when they start to move their hand to transfer the numbness.  Most overcome this issue with continued practice, but for some it is a persistent issue.  Here are some ideas to help you overcome [...]

Deepening Techniques

I don’t always see a clear-cut line between relaxation, deepening and visualization techniques, but to simplify things while you’re learning we’re going to categorize the techniques.  Here’s a list of the deepening techniques you’ll be learning through the HypnoBirthing book and/or your NC HypnoBirthing class:

Depthometer
Sensory Gate Valve
Time Distortion
Birth Companion Deepening
Fractionation
Glove Anesthesia

Comfort Management: Glove Anesthesia

Some moms are very interested in mastering the glove anesthesia technique.  Personal preference will play a big part in determining which techniques you decide to focus on, especially in the area of comfort management.  If glove anesthesia is a technique that you enjoy, here are tips for your practice sessions:

Get deeply relaxed before your glove [...]

Relaxation Techniques

I don’t always see a clear-cut line between relaxation, deepening and visualization techniques, but to simplify things while you’re learning we’re going to categorize the techniques.  Here’s a list of the relaxation techniques you’ll be learning through the HypnoBirthing book and/or your NC HypnoBirthing class:

Progressive Relaxation
Disappearing Letters
Light Touch Massage
Anchors

Shoulder Anchor
Verbal Anchor

Affirmations
Eye Fixation – Hypnotic Induction
Double Hypnotic [...]

Why all the Fuss about Releasing Fears?

Have you ever heard that something can go wrong during pregnancy and birthing?  There’s no doubt that these kinds of things have been shared with you by concerned friends and family members, co-workers and even strangers.  It is amazing how total strangers will approach a pregnant woman and share the most horrific birthing story they know with her.  [...]

Man Hypnotizes Himself Before an Operation

A quick article from BBC News about a man who hypnotized himself in preparation for hand surgery.  His surgery included the use of a hammer, chisel and a surgical saw.  He was aware of what was going on around him and remained completely free of pain.  It only took him 30 seconds to 1 minute for him [...]

Facial Relaxation

Facial relaxation is simply a technique of relaxing the muscles in the face and often in the rest of the head.  Many progressive relaxation techniques begin with facial relaxation.  Relaxing your face and head is a powerful way to relax your entire mind and body and prepare for birthing, especially if you you give yourself additional [...]